Distilling apparatus



Jan. 8, 1957 F. B. WHITE ET AL DISTILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 29, 19515 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 8, 1957 F. B. WHITE Er AL 2,776,938

DISTILLING APPARATUS 5 Sheecs-SheeiI 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1951 Jan. 8, 1957F. B. WHITE Er AL 2,776,938

DISTILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 29, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 nventorsFRANC/5 5 M/H/rf A25/PED GPQRKf/e Jan. 8, 1957 F. B. WHITE ET AL2,776,938

DISTILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 29, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 8, 1957F.7B. WHITE Er A1. 2,776,938.

DIsTILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec.' 29, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 JW@ a fauomeg United States Patent DISTILLING APPARATUS Francis B. White,Elmhurst, N. Y., and Alfred G. Parker,

Summit, N. I., assignors to Foster Wheeler Corporation, New York, N. Y.,a corporation of New York Application December 29, 1951, Serial No.264,044

Claims. (Cl. 202173) This invention relates to distilling apparatus andmore particularly to apparatus for the treatment of stock containingfatty acids or the like Wherein said stock is distilled.

The production of fatty acids for either the plastics, candle, ortoilet-soap industries requires a product that is light in color and hasother properties in conformity with established standards. To obtain alight color and desirable properties, dis-tillation of fatty acids hasbeen practiced for many years. The preferred manufacture oflight-colored fatty acids is accomplished by separating the product froma low-boiling, light-end fraction which is prone to darken and from arelatively nonvolatile highly colored residue. Most distillation unitsoverlook the need for removing light ends and therefore do not achieve acolor-stable product, This oversight may be due to the relatively largeimprovement obtained by removal of the residue, which contains all ofthe glyceride oils or fats remaining from the previous splittingoperation along with most of the darker impurities.

Fatty acids, particularly the more unsaturated ones, are subject todegradation when maintained at an elevated temperature. This degradationwill be hastened if oxygen comes into contact with the acids.Considering these important factors among others, a good distillationsystem will include the following principles in its design:

(a) Operation of the still should be at minimum temperature. Thisimplies that high vacuum is mandatory and that a premium may be placedupon two additional factors:

(l) The use of stripping steam; (2) The maintenance of low pressuredropfin the vacuum system,

(b) There is always a correlation between time and temperature whenconsidering the breakdown of fatty acids. Higher temperatures can beemployed if the time element is kept to a minimum and, in acomplementary sense, the -time of distillation may be extended if thetemperature is kept low. A suitable economic balance must, therefore, beselected.

(c) The means of applying heat to the boiling fatty acids in the stillis an important consideration. The use of a uniform temperaturethroughout the heating zone is desirable. Such a condition is possiblewhen employing condensing steam or diphenyl, diphenyl oxide (Dowtherm)as the heating medium.

(d) To insure a light-colored distillate, itisimportant that there be nosubstantial mechanical carry-over of residue into the vapor stream.

The present invention provides compact apparatus for the distillation offatty acids, which apparatus consists of; a twocompartment still havinga prestripping zoneand` bulk overhead dstilling zone, therebyY providingnot only more compact but considerably less expensive equipment thanheretofore used.

This invention provides-adistillation unit byrmeansof 2 which maximumproductivity and high quality product are obtained.

The present invention provides a still which is easily maintained ingood operating condition and is compact in its arrangement.

Further, the invention provides an arrangement of apparatus whereinentrainment is separated from vapor through centrifugal action prior towithdrawal of said vapor from the still.

The still of the present invention comprises a substantiallycylindrically shaped shell, the longitudinal axis of which extends in ahorizontal plane, the shell having two heated reboiler tube bundleslocated adjacent the bottom thereof and extending thereinto from theopposite ends thereof toward one another land to a point between saidopposite ends. Intermediate lbetween the opposite ends of the shell andbetween the adjacent ends of the tube bundles is located a verticalseparating wall secured within the shell and dividing said shell intotwo compartments which communicate with one another beneath thepartition to permit passage of liquid from one compartment to another.Crude moist fatty acid feed stock is fed to one of the compartments, theprestripping or light-ends compartment, in which compartment is arrangeda plurality of baffles or trays extending in vertically spacedhorizontal planes above the reboiler tube bundle in that compartment.The trays are so disposed that the feed stock introduced thereinto owsacross each tray and from onel tray to the next tray therebelow. Feedstock from.

the trays flows into the lower portion of said light-ends: compartmentand is heated by the reboiler tube bundle, the rising vapors in thecompartment passing in heat exchange relationship with the feed stockflowing across the baffles or trays. In this manner the feed stock isheated considerably, substantially dcaerating and dewatering the feedbefore it reaches the hot surfaces of the reboiler bundle, a provisionwhich minimizes salting out on the heat transfer surfaces.

The light-ends reboiler in. the above mentioned compartment suppliespreheat to the feed by direct contact condensation plus an additionalamount of heat sufficient to vaporize a small part of the feed. Thisvaporized part of the feed will contain the light ends, particularlydarkcolored odor bodies, which will be pumped from the condenser builtinto the vent pipe communicating with the still.

The hot fatty acids in the lower portion ofthe lightends compartmentwillgradually increase in level and be forced under said partition into theother or bulk overheadcompartment of thestill. In Athe bulk overheadcompartment additional heat fromy the other yreboiler bundle willvaporize the bulk of the fatty acids remaining, allowing the bottomstooverflow to a bottoms receiver. The degree of heat transmitted to thefatty Iacids in this section of the still will be so regulated that thehigh-boiling color bodies will be left behind inthe bottoms to theextent they are present in the feed.

The bulk overhead vapors generated in said bulk overhead compartment aredeflecteddownwardly around the outside of a heater trough therein andthence upwardly through an entrainment eliminator, changing direction ofow before leaving through bulk overhead section vapor line to the fattyacid condenser, thereby limiting carryover of residue with thedistillate to aminimum.

While the invention has been described above and will hereinafter bedescribed as u sed in the distillation of fatty acids, it will beunderstood that said invention may be used in they distillation of othermaterials.

The invention will. be` understood from the following descriptionwhenlconsidered Iin connection with the' accompanying drawingsA formingapart-thereof, in which:

Fig. l is a low diagram of a cycle of operations for the production offatty acids from feed stocks containing the same and in which thecontinuous distillation unit of the present invention is incorporated;

Fig. 2 is a side view of said continuous distillation unit with variousparts broken away to disclose the arrangement of the parts of the unitcontained within the outer shell thereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6*6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a view of the separation wall dividing the distillation unitof the present invention into distilling compartments;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the sparger steam feed pipe in the unit;and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section of the sparger steam pipe taken on line9--9 of Fig. 8.

Like characters of reference refer to the same or similar partsthroughout the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the reference number 10 designates anenclosed cylindrically shaped horizontally extending distilling unitcomprising a shell 10' closed at the opposite ends 11 and 12 thereof. Aheater trough 13 is disposed in the shell 10 and extends axially betweenthe opposite ends thereof in a horizontal plane in the lower portion andin spaced relationship with the bottom thereof. The trough 13communicates with cylindrical extensions 14 and 14 which project beyondand are respectively secured to opposite ends of the shell. Trough 13 issemicircular in shape at the lower portion thereof and has horizontalreturn bend reboiler bundles 15 and 16 positioned therein, which bundlesare respectively inserted in the troughs through extensions 14 and 14and are supported in tube sheets 17 and 17 respectively.

The tube sheets together with heads 18 and 18 are removably secured toextensions 14 and 14 so that the heads may readily be removed and thetube bundles withdrawn from the trough 13 by removal of the tube sheetsin a direction away from the opposite ends of the shell. The heads 18and 18 are partitioned at 19 and 19' to form a heating uid inletcompartment in communication with one leg of a tube bundle and afluid-heating outlet compartment in communication with the other leg ofsaid bundle. A heating fluid inlet pipe 23 is in communication with theinlet compartment of head 18 and an outlet pipe 24 communicates with theoutlet compartment thereof, while heating tluid inlet and outlet pipes23 and 24' respectively communicate with the inlet and outletcompartments of head 18. The tube bundles project into the shell towardone another to a point short of a vertical separating partition 20dividing the shell into two distilling compartments or sections,lghtends section A and overhead bulk section B. Partition 20, shown indetail in Fig. 7, is welded to shell 10' extends transversely thereof ata point nearer one end of the shell than another. The partition projectsdownwardly into the trough but in spaced relationship with the bottomthereof to permit passage of liquid `through opening 13' from onedistilling section to the other.

Heater trough 13 is open in the upper portion thereof so that vaporheated therein bythe tube bundles may tlow upwardly. Trough 13 in thebulk overhead section B extends upwardly and outwardly at one side 21 ina substantially vertically inclined plane (Fig. 5)' to a point in spacedrelationship with the inner periphery `of shell 10', while opposite side22 of said trough extends substantially vertically to a point in spacedrelationship with the top of the shell and the uppermost edge of side 21and then horizontally until it joins the periphery of the shell to whichit is attached, said sides thereby forming a longitudinal vapor chamber21' extending between partition 20 and the end of thc shell and vaporoutlet 26 (Fig. 5) in the bulk overhead section B into a circularpassage 24" formed between the inner periphery of shell 10 and trough 13through which vapor from outlet 26 flows.

An entrainment eliminator 25 extends across the path of ow of vaporpassing through passage 24", which eliminator, as shown in Figs. 2 and5, comprises a plurality of slots 2S extendingin two rows disposed oneabove the other and projecting across passage 24". The slots of each roware spaced from one another axially of the shell, the slots of one rowbeing inclined toward one end of the shell while the slots of the otherrow are inclined toward thc opposite end thereof. The entrainmenteliminator is substantially horizontal and sup ported by angle ironsWelded to shell 10', side 22 and inverted L-shaped baffle 22 fastened toend 12 of the shell. The eliminator extends longitudinally frompartition 20 to bale 22 (Fig. 2) in the bulk overhead zone B. Afterflowing through the eliminator, vapor passes into an upper space 26(Fig. 5) whence it ilows outwardly of the shell through outlet 27.

A plurality of trays or baffles 28, 29, 30 and 31 arc located in theupper portion of the light-end distilling section A of the shell (Figs.2-4, 6) above trough 13 and reboiler tube bundle 16. The trays or bafes28, 29, 30 and 31 extend in vertically spaced horizontal planes, theuppermost tray 28 (Figs. 3, 6) extending transversely of shell 10 andoverlapping at one end thereof the next lower tray 29 which extendsaxially of the shell. The tray 29 overlaps at the end thereof away fromtray 28 an adjacent lower tray 30 which extends transversely of theshell and substantially parallel to the uppermost tray 28 and overlaps alowermost tray 31 which extends in the same direction as, but in a lowerhorizontal plane than, the above mentioned adjacent lower tray 30. Thetrays or baffles are connected by tierods not numbered but clearlyillustrated in broken lines in Fig. 2 and spacers or the like (Fig. 2)and have downspouts 32 in the ovcrlapping portions thereof communicatingwith the next lower tray in series. The last or lowest tray 31 of theseries extends over a container 33 comprising end wall 34, side wall 35,and bottom 36. The inner periphery of shell 10 and end 11 form theopposite side and end walls respectively of the container. The lowermosttray 31 communicates with container 33 through its downspout 32.Container 33 communicates with the extension 14 of heater trough 13outside shell 10' by conduit 37, one end of the conduit communicatingwith container 33 and the other end communicating with extension 14 oftrough 13 outside the shell. A sparger steam feed pipe 38 enters thelower portion of heater trough 13 in section A and extends horizontallytherein to a point short of wall 20, while sparger steam feed pipe 39enters the lower portion of heater trough 13 in section B and extendsthereinto a point short of wall 20. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, steam isfed into the sections by a series of small openings in the sides of thepipe.

A light-ends condenser 40 is in communication with shell 10' in thelight-ends section A through a receiver 41 open at the top thereof andcomprising an end wall 42, a side wall 43, and a bottom 44. Partition 20forms an opposite end wall of the receiver while shell 10 forms anopposite side wall. It will be noted that uppermost tray 28 is mountedon and supported by side wall 43 of receiver 41. Condenser 40 is locatedoutside and adjacent shell 10 and in spaced relationship with lightendssection A thereof. The condenser extends substantially horizontally andhas a head 45 with a water inlet pipe 46, a water outlet pipe 47 and aow division baie 48. Tube sheet 50 therein supports a U-shaped tubebundle 49, the opposite legs of which are in communication with inlet 46and outlet 47 of the condenser. Ava'por outlet 51 is located in the sideof the condenser,

said outlet extending substantially horizontally and 90 from thedirection of vapor ow in the condenser. In the bottom of the condenseris located a vertical condensate outlet 52.

Feed enters the unit through a vertical feed pipe 53 in the top oflight-ends section A directly over tray 2S so that it discharges intosaid tray. Vapor outlet conduit 27 in the top of bulk overhead section Bdischarges the distilled fatty acid vapors from the unit to a fatty acidcondenser 58 (Fig. l). In the lower portion of the unit is located eabottoms receiver space 55 defined by the periphery of shell and belowtrough 13. In section A space 55 is covered at one side of trough 13 bya horizontal partition 55 (Fig. 6) which projects laterally from thetrough to the inner periphery of the shell and longitudinally of sectionA from end 11 of the shell to partition 20. From receiver space 55 theresidue remaining after distillation is discharged from the unit througha bottoms outlet drain 56. Residue to receiver 55 is discharged throughthe bulk overhead bottoms overflow drain 5'7 located in side 21 oftrough 13.

In operation, a heating medium such as steam or diphenyl, diphenyl oxide(Dowtherm) is heated in a Vaporizer 5S (Fig. l) and is passed throughline 59 to fluid-heating inlet pipe 23' of tube bundle 16 in the portionof trough 13 in section A and through lines 59 and 6l) to fluid-heatinginlet pipe 23 of tube bundle 15 in the portion of trough 13 in sectionB. After flowing through the tubes of bundles 15 and 16 wherein it isused for heating liquid in said trough, :as will hereinafter bedescribed, the heating medium is returned to vaporizer 58 throughfluid-heating outlet pipes 24 and 24 through lines 61 and 62respectively. Steam for sparger steam pipes 39 and 38 is fed to saidpipes through steam lines 63 and 64 respectively. Feed enters light-endssection A of the still through feed pipe 53, falling onto the highesttray 28 of the series of trays or bales in the vapor space of section A(Figs. 2, 4, 6). The liquid then flows lacross tray 2S to tray 29,across tray 29 to tray 30, across tray 30 to tray 31, and across tray 31to container 33, the liquid cascading from tray to tray. During suchflow the liquid is contacted by the hot vapors rising from the lowerportion of section A and is thereby heated considerably, substantiallydeaerating and dewatering the feed before it reaches the hot surfaces ofthe reboiler bundle 16, as hereinafter described. This minimizes saltingout on the heat transfer surfaces of the reboiler. After leaving thelast of the trays or baies, the dehydrated feed discharges intocontainer 33 and leaves section A by conduit 37 which conducts theliquid into the portion of heater trough 13 in extension 14. In theheater trough 13, which contains reboiler bundle 16 and sparger steamfeed pipe 38, the 'balance of the preheat is supplied to the feed liquidarriving from the trays plus an additional amount of heat sufficient todistill overhead to the condenser, for example, 115% of the feed. Thevapor rises into the upper part of section A where it contacts liquidflowing through the trays, while residual uncondensed vapor, being aresult of partial vaporization and partial condensation of the feed,which contains the light ends and particularly dark-colored odor bodies,leaves the section through receiver 41 in communication with condenser44) adjacent the light ends section of the shell. The vapor flows inheat exchange relationship with tubes 49 of condenser 4u, the condensateflowing through outlet 52 into line 65 (Fig. l) where it is conducted toa light-ends receiver. By this step not only is the nal product madesomewhat lighter than would otherwise be the case, but a morecolor-stable product is obtained.

The hot fatty .acids in the portion of heater trough 13 in section Awill gradually increase in level and be forced under the portion ofpartition 20 extending in said trough (Fig. 4) through opening 13 (Fig.2) into the portion of heater trough 13 in section B. Here,

steam from sparger steam feed pipe 39 and reboiler bundle 15 in thetrough will vaporize the bulk of the feed, the fatty acids remaining,and the bottoms so heated will overflow to bottoms receiver space 55through overflow drain 57 located in side 21 of trough 13 (Figs. 2, 5).The amount of heat to this section of the still will be preferably soregulated that the residue amounts to approximately 1-25% of the feed,in order that highboiling color bodies Will be left behind in thebottoms to the extent they are present in the feed.

Bottoms from bottoms space 55 flow outwardly of said space throughbottoms outlet 56 and to a bottoms accumulator 68 through line 69 (Fig.l). The bulk overhead vapors rise from the portion of trough 13 insection B, impinging upon trough side 22 which, with its horizontalextension, is so shaped as to deflect the vapor in a generally downwarddirection through vapor opening 26 and into circular passage 24 betweenthe inner periphery of shell 10 and trough 13, thence upwardly throughentrainment eliminators 25. The substantially 360 change in vapor owdirection after the Vapor leaves trough 13 centrifuges entrained liquidfrom the vapor, while the change of direction of flow of vapor througheliminator slots 25 eliminates substantially the remainder of saidentrained Vapor. Separated vapor enters space 26 of section B whence itflows into outlet 27 (Fig. 5), thereafter to pass into condenser 58(Fig. l).

inasmuch as various modifications may be made in the form of theapparatus herein disclosed and in the location and relative arrangementof the several parts of the invention without departing from theprinciples thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not tobe limited excepting by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Apparatus of the character described comprising a substantiallyhorizontally extending shell, partition means dividing said shell intolaterally adjacent prestripping and bulk overhead distillingcompartments, heating means in the lower part of said prestrippingcompartment, other heating means in the lower part of said bulk overheadcompartment, said compartments being in communication with one anotherin the lower part thereof so that heated liquid will pass from saidheating means in the prestripping compartment to said heating means inthe bulk overhead compartment, feed stock conducting means incommunication with said prestripping compartment in the upper partthereof and conducting unheated feed stock into said prestrippingcompartment for heat exchange relationship with the heating means insaid last mentioned compartment, the prestripping compartment having avapor outlet in the upper portion thereof, baffle means in saidprestripping compartment above the heating means for receiving andintercepting the unheated feed stock passing t0 the heating means forheat exchange relationship therewith, the baiiie means comprising aplurality of open trays positioned at an elevation below the vaporoutlet for the prestripping compartment, said trays communicating withone another in series to form a liquid path of iow for said feed liquid,each tray being disposed'in a substantially horizontal plane at adifferent vertical level above the heating means in said compartment,the uppermost tray extending transversely of the longitudinal axis ofthe shell, one end of the uppermost tray being in communication with thefeed stock conduit while the opposite end communicates with a lower trayadjacent one end of said lower tray, said lower tray extendingsubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shell, thelowermost tray and trays intermediate said lower and lowermost trayscommunicating with one another adjacent the adjoining ends thereof andextending transversely of said longitudinal axis of the shell, saidlowermost tray communicating at one end thereof with said heating meansand at the opposite end with the tray next above the lowermost tray,vapor outlet means in communication with the upper portion of said bulkover-` head distilling compartment, vapor and liquid separating means inthe bulk overhead distilling compartment in the path of tlow of vaporfrom said other heating means to said vapor outlet means, and aseparated liquid outlet in communication with the bulk overheaddistilling cornpartment.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising a cylindricallyshaped substantially horizontally extending shell, partition meansdividing said shell into laterally adjacent prestripping and bulkoverhead distilling compartments, heating means in the lower part ofsaid prestripping compartment, other heating means in the lower part ofsaid bulk overhead compartment, said heating means and said otherheating means being positioned in spaced relationship with the bottom ofthe shell, said compartments also being in communication with oneanother in the lower part thereof so that heated liquid will pass fromsaid heating means in the prestripping compartment to said heating meansin lthe bulk overhead compartment, feed conducting means incommunication with said prestripping compartment in the upper partthereof and conducting unheated feed stock into said prestrippingcompartment for heat exchange relationship with the heating means insaid last mentioned compartment, the prestripping compartment having avapor outlet in the upper portion thereof, batile means in saidprestripping compartment above the heating means for receiving andintercepting the unheated feed stock passing to the heating means forheat exchange relationship therewith, the bati'le means comprising aplurality of open trays positioned at an elevation below the vaporoutlet for the prestripping compartment, said trays communicating withone another in series to form a liquid path of flow for said feedliquid, each tray being disposed in a substantially horizontal plane ata different vertical level above the heating means in said compartment,the uppermost tray extending transversely of the longitudinal axis ofthe shell, one end of the uppermost tray being in communication withthefeed stock conduit while the opposite end communicates with a lower trayadjacent one end of said lower tray, said lower tray extendingsubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shell, thelowermost tray and trays intermediate said lower and lowermost trayscommunicating with one another adjacent the adjoining ends thereof andextending transversely of said longitudinal axis of the shell, saidlowermost tray communicating at one end thereof with said heating meansand at the opposite end with the tray next above the lowermost tray,vapor outlet means in communication with the upper portion of said bulkoverhead distilling compartment, vapor and liquid separating means inthe bulk overhead distilling compartment in the path of flow of vaporfrom said other heating means to said vapor outlet means, and a sepa-.rated liquid outlet in communication with the bulk overhead distillingcompartment.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the heating means in the bulkoverhead compartment is in spaced relationship with the opposite sidesand bottom of the shell so .as to form a vapor passage between theheating means and the inner periphery of the shell and wherein the vaporand liquid separating means comprises deflecting means above saidheating means in the path of vapors iflowing upwardly therefrom and soshaped as to direct thc vapors into the passage and at one side of saidshell only, and the vapor outlet means is in communication with saidpassage so as to receive vapor after flow thereof in the passage.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the heating means comprises asubstantially semicircular trough member extending longitudinally of thebulk overhead compartment and positioned with the opening of said troughfacing upwardly in the compartment, said trough member having heatingelements therein, and wherein the detlecting means comprises a plateextending upwardly from one side of the trough thence over said troughin the path of vapors rising therefrom and into engagement with theinner periphery of the shell at one side thereof, the deecting platebeing curved to direct vapors downwardly into said passage and at oneside of said shell only.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein means for removing entrained liquidfrom said vapor is positioned in the path of ow of vapor through saidpassage to the vapor outlet means.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a cylindricallyshaped substantially horizontally extending shell, partition meansdividing said shell into laterally adjacent prestripping and bulkoverhead distilling compartments, heating means in the lower part ofsaid prestripping compartment, other heating means in the lower part ofsaid bulk overhead compartment, said heating means and said otherheating means comprising a trough member positioned in spacedrelationship with the bottom of the shell and the opposite sides thereofand so as to open upwardly into the prestripping and bulk overheadcompartments respectively, a heating element disposed in the troughmember in said prestripping compartment, another heating elementdisposed in the trough member in the bulk overhead compartment, saidheating element and said other heating element being separatelycontrolled, said trough means in the prestripping and bulk overheadcompartments also being in communication with one another so that heatedliquid will pass from said portion of the trough prestrippingcompartment to said portion of the trough bulk overhead compartment,feed stock conducting means in communication with said prestrippingcompartment in the upper part thereof, the prestripping compartmenthaving a vapor outlet in the upper portion thereof, bale means in saidprestripping compartment above the heating means and at an elevationbelow said vapor outlet, the battle means comprising a sequence of balesarranged adjacent to one another for series flow of liquid, said bafesbeing shaped for liquid flow longitudinally thereof, adjacent bafesbeing disposed in horizontal planes arranged in vertical series, theuppermost batiie communicating with the feed stock conducting meansadjacent one end of said uppermost batile and with the next adjacentlower baie adjacent the opposite end of said uppermost baffle, thelowermost i bafe being in communication adjacent one end thereof withthe ba'iie next above to receive liquid from said baille next above andin communication with the lower part of said prestripping compartmentadjacent the opposite end of the lowermost baffle to discharge saidliquid into the compartment, the baiiles intermediate said uppermost andlowermost bales communicating adjacent one end thereof with the bafflenext above adjacent one end of said next above bale to receive liquidtherefrom and adjacent the opposite end thereof with the bathe nextbelow adjacent one end of said bafde next below to discharge liquidthereinto, the adjacent baffles extending in different directions in thecompartment in the path of ow of vapor passing from the lower part ofthe compartment to said compartment vapor outlet, the batic's being sopositioned that the flow path of liquid between the opposite ends of anyone of the bales is out of vertical alignment with the other bafes ofsaid sequence, vapor outlet means in communication with the upperportion of said bulk overhead distilling compartment, vapor and liquidseparating means in the bulk overhead distilling compartment in the pathof ow of vapor from said other heating means to said vapor outlet means,and a separated liquid outlet in communication with the bulk overheaddistilling compartment.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a Spargel' tube is disposed in theportion of the trough member in said prestripping compartment andanother sparger tube is disposed in the portion of said trough member inthe bulk overhead compartment, said sparger tubes being located toinject steam into liquid in said trough members.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the heating means in the bulkoverhead compartment is in spaced relationship with the opposite sidesand bottom of the shell so as to form a vapor passage between theheating means and the inner periphery of the shell and wherein the vaporand liquid separating means comprises deecting means above said heatingmeans in the path of vapors flowing upwardly therefrom and so shaped asto direct the vapors into the passage and at one side of said shellonly, and the vapor outlet means is in communication with said passageso as to receive vapor after ilow thereof in the passage.

9. Apparatus of the character described comprising a cylindricallyshaped substantially horizontally extending shell, partition meansdividing said shell into laterally adjacent prestripping and bulkoverhead distilling compartments, heating means in the lower part ofsaid prestripping compartment, other heating means in the lower part ofsaid bulk overhead compartment, the heating means in the bulk overheaddistilling compartment being in spaced relationship with the bottom andthe opposite sides of the shell so as to form a vapor passage betweenthe heating means in said compartment and the inner periphery of theshell, said compartments also being in communication with one another inthe lower part thereof so that heated liquid will pass from said heatingmeans in the prestripping compartment to said heating means in the bulkoverhead compartment, feed stock conducting means in communication withsaid prestripping compartment in the upper part thereof, theprestripping compartment having a vapor outlet in the upper portionthereof, baille means in said prestripping compartment and at anelevation below said vapor outlet, the baille means comprising asequence of baffles arranged adjacent to one another for series ilow ofliquid, said bales being shaped for liquid flow longitudinally thereof,adjacent bailles being disposed in horizontal planes arranged inVertical series, the uppermost baille communicating` with the feed stockconducting means adjacent one end of said uppermost baille and with thenext adjacent lower baille adjacent the opposite end of said uppermostbaille, the lowermost baille being in communication adjacent one endthereof with the baille next above to receive liquid yfrom said baillenext above and in communication with the lower part of said prestrippingcompartment adjacent the opposite end of the lowermost baille todischarge said liquid into the compartment, the bailles intermediatesaid uppermost and lowermost bailles communicating adjacent one endthereof with the baille next above adjacent one end of said next abovebaille to receive liquid therefrom and adjacent the opposite end thereofwith the baille next below adjacent one end of said baffle next below todischarge liquid thereinto, the adjacent bafiles extending in differentdirections in the compartment in the path of ilow of vapor passing fromthe lower part of the compartment to said compartment vapor outlet,

' the bailles being so positioned that the ilow path of liquid betweenthe opposite ends of any one of the bales is out of vertical alignmentwith the other bailles of said sequence, vapor outlet means incommunication with the upper portion of said bulk overhead distillingcompartment, vapor and liquid separating means in the bulk overheaddistilling compartment in the path of ow of vapor from said otherheating means to said vapor outlet means, the vapor and liquidseparating means comprising deilecting means above said heating means inthe path of vapors owing upwardly therefrom and so shaped as to directthe vapors into the passage and at one side of said shell only, and aseparated liquid outlet in communication with said passage so as toreceive vapor after ilow thereof in the passage.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the baille means in theprestripping compartment comprises a plurality of open trays positionedat an elevation below the vapor outlet for the prestripping compartment,said trays communicating with one another in series to form a liquidpath 0f ilow for said feed liquid, each tray being disposed in asubstantially horizontal plane at a different vertical level above theheating means in said compartment, the uppermost tray extendingtransversely of the longitudinal axis of the shell, one end of theuppermost tray being in communication with the feed stock conduit Whilethe opposite end communicates with a lower tray adjacent one end of saidlower tray, said lower tray extending substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the shell, the lowermost tray and traysintermediate said lower and lowermost trays communicating with oneanother adjacent the adjoining ends thereof and extending transverselyof said longitudinal axis of the shell, said lowermost traycommunicating at one end thereof with said heating means and at theopposite end with the tray next above the lowermost tray, and whereinthe heating means comprises a substantially semicircular trough memberextending longitudinally of the bulk overhead compartment and positionedwith the opening of said trough facing upwardly in the compartment, saidtrough member having heating elements therein, and wherein thedeilecting means comprises a plate extending upwardly from one side ofthe trough thence over said trough in the path of vapors risingtherefrom and into engagement with the inner periphery of the shell atone side thereof, the deflecting plate being curved to direct vaporsdownwardly into said passage and at one side of said shell only.

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1. APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLYHORIZONTALLY EXTENDING SHELL, PARTITION MEANS DIVIDING SAID SHELL INTOLATERALLY ADJACENT PRESTRIPPING AND BULK OVERHEAD DISTILLINGCOMPARTMENTS, HEATING MEANS IN THE LOWER PART OF SAID PRESTRIPPINGCOMPATMENT, OTHER HEATING MEANS IN THE LOWER PART OF SAID BULK OVERHEADCOMPARTMENT, SAID COMPARTMENTS BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH ONE ANOTHERIN THE LOWER PART THEREOF SO THAT HEATED LIQUID WILL PASS FROM SAIDHEATING MEANS IN THE PRESTRIPPING COMPARTMENT TO SAID HEATING MEANS INTHE BULK OVERHEAD COMPARTMENT, FEED STOCK CONDUCTING MEANS INCOMMUNICATION WITH SAID PRESTRIPPING COMPARTMENT IN THE UPPER PARTTHEREOF AND CONDUCTING UNHEATED FEED STOCK INTO SAID PRESTRIPPINGCOMPARTMENT FOR HEAT EXCHANGE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HEATING MEANS INSAID LAST MENTIONED COMPARTMENT, THE PRESTRIPPING COMPARTMENT HAVING AVAPOR OUTLET IN THE UPPER PORTION THEREOF, BAFFLE MEANS IN SAIDPRESTRIPPING COMPARTMENT ABOVE THE HEATING MEANS FOR RECEIVING ANDINTERCEPTING THE UNHEATED FEED STOCK PASSING TO THE MEANS FOR HEATEXCHANGE RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH, THE BAFFLE MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITYOF OPEN TRAYS POSITIONED AT AN ELEVATION BELOW THE VAPOR OUTLET FOR THEPRESTRIPPING COMPARTMENT, SAID TRAYS COMMUNICATING WITH ONE ANOTHER INSERIES TO FORM A LIQUID PATH OF FLOW FOR SAID FEED LIQUID, EACH TRAYBEING DISPOSED IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PLANE AT A DIFFERENTVERTICAL LEVEL ABOVE THE HEATING MEANS IN SAID COMPARTMENT, THEUPPERMOST TRAY EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THESHELL, ONE END OF THE UPPERMOST TRAY BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEFEED STOCK CONDUIT WHILE THE OPPOSITE END COMMUNICATES WITH A LOWER TRAYADJACENT ONE END OF SAID LOWER TRAY, SAID LOWER TRAY EXTENDINGSUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE SHELL, THELOWERMOST TRAY AND TRAYS INTERMEDIATE SAID LOWER AND LOWERMOST TRAYSCOMMUNICATING WITH ONE ANOTHER ADJACENT THE ADJOINING ENDS THEREOF ANDEXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE SHELL, SAIDLOWERMOST TRAY COMMUNICATIONG AT ONE END THEREOF WITH SAID HEATING MEANSAND AT THE OPPOSITE END WITH THE TRAY NEXT ABOVE THE LOWERMOS T TRAY,VAPOR OUTLET MEANS IN COMMUNCATION WITH THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID BULKOVERHEAD DISTILLING COMPARTMENT, VAPOR AND LIQUID SEPARATING MEANS INTHE BULK OVERHEAD DISTILLING COMPARTMENT IN THE PATH OF FLOW OF VAPORFROM SAID OTHER HEATING MEANS TO SAID VAPOR OUTLET MEANS, AND ASEPARATED LIQUID OUTLET IN COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BULK OVERHEADDISTILLING COMPARTMENT.